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Barcaldine Region Queensland
Location within Queensland
Population:	3,394 (2008)[1]
Established:	2008
Area:	53677 km² (20,724.8 sq mi)
Mayor:	Robert Chandler[2]
Council Seat:	Barcaldine
Region:	Central West
State District:	Gregory
Federal Division:	Flynn
Website: http://www.barcaldine.qld.gov.au/
LGAs around Barcaldine Region: Winton Flinders Charters Towers Longreach Barcaldine Region Isaac / Central Highlands Longreach Blackall-Tambo Central Highlands

The Barcaldine Region is a Local Government Area located in central western Queensland, Australia. Established in 2008, it was preceded by three previous local government areas which had existed for over a century.

It has an estimated operating budget of AUD21.6m.

History

The Barcaldine Region began as three separate entities: the Shires of Barcaldine, Aramac and Jericho.

When the Divisional Boards Act 1879 was proclaimed on 11 November 1879, what is now the Barcaldine Region was part of the Barcaldine, Aramac, Kargoolnah and Bauhinia divisions. With the passage of the Local Authorities Act 1902, all four became Shires on 31 March 1903. A number of boundary changes took place thereafter, but by the establishment of the Shire of Jericho on 1 January 1916, the boundaries were to remain unchanged for 92 years.

In July 2007, the Local Government Reform Commission released its report and recommended that the three areas amalgamate. All three councils were rated as weak to moderate in terms of financial sustainability, and the three areas were believed to form a collective community of interest with the town of Barcaldine serving as a regional centre with commercial facilities and an airport. All three councils opposed the amalgamation, with Aramac putting an alternate suggestion together with the Shire of Winton whereby.^[3] The legislation passed to effect the merger on 10 August 2007. A Local Transition Committee made up of staff and councillors of the two dissolving entities was formed to manage the process. On 15 March 2008, the three Shires formally ceased to exist, and elections were held on the same day to elect councillors and a mayor to the Regional Council.

Wards

The council is undivided, with six councillors and a mayor serving the whole region.

Towns and localities

• Barcaldine
• Alpha
• Aramac
• Jericho
• Muttaburra

• Bangall
• Barcaldine Downs
• Beaufort
• Cornish Creek
• Cudmore
• Dunrobin
• Galilee
• Grant
• Hobartville
• Ibis
• Ingberry
• Narbethong
• Patrick
• Pelican Creek
• Pine Hill
• Sardine
• Sedgeford
• Tablederry
• Upland
• Upper Cornish Creek

Population

The populations given relate to the component entities prior to 2008. The next census, due in 2011, will be the first for the new Region.

References